Frame for mounting solar modules

Abstract

A frame for jointly mounting at least two rectangular solar modules, wherein the frame comprises at least a group consisting of three parallel rails which are attached to a supporting structure at defined distances from each other,characterized in that the middle rail of the three rails has a profile with flanges cantilevering towards both sides under which an edge of a solar module can be inserted, and that to the two outer rails of the three rails clamping elements can be bolted, by means of which solar modules inserted into the middle rail can be mounted on the two outer rails, namely on both respective edges which are adjacent to the edge inserted into the middle rail.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]The invention relates to a frame for jointly mounting at least two rectangular solar modules on the frame, wherein said frame comprises at least a group consisting of three parallel rails which are mounted on a supporting structure at defined distances from each other.[0002]DE 20 2005 001 469 U1 discloses a device for mounting solar modules on a roof surface on rails which are laid in the direction of the roof pitch and have open-top channels. It is possible to mount clampings in the channels by means of screws or bolts, which clampings wrap around the rims of the solar modules with a collar. The principle of this type of mounting is referred to as clamp mounting.[0003]This type of mounting leads to a secure mounting of the solar modules on the rails. However, each clamping has to be bolted individually.[0004]The object underlying the invention is to provide a frame or a mounting system, respectively, for solar modules, on which the solar modules can...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]Thus, the invention is characterized in that the principles of insertion mounting and clamp mounting are combined. Although insertion mounting is basically faster, it is disadvantageous that the rails have to run parallel to two opposite edges, usually the narrow sides, of the solar modules. Consequently, the solar modules are held only at their outermost edges and, in the case of heavy snowfall, this might lead to a sagging of the modules. By contrast, by means of clamp mounting the rails can be located under the solar modules such that they are closer to their respective centers, which reduces sagging of the modules. The invention combines insertion mounting on one edge and clamp mounting on two edges adjacent to said edge, and, thus, combines the advantages of insertion mounting with those of clamp mounting.

[0008]According to a preferred embodiment the frame is designed such that the edge inserted into the middle rail forms the narrow side of the rectangular solar modules. “Narrow edge” refers to one of the two shorter sides of the rectangle. Advantageously, the respective distances between the three rails are each smaller than the length of the long sides of the rectangular solar modules. This means that the outer two of the three rails do not run close to the outer narrow sides, but closer to the center for a better support of the solar modules over their length in order to prevent a possible sagging in the case of snowfall.

Problems solved by technology

Although insertion mounting is basically faster, it is disadvantageous that the rails have to run parallel to two opposite edges, usually the narrow sides, of the solar modules.

Consequently, the solar modules are held only at their outermost edges and, in the case of heavy snowfall, this might lead to a sagging of the modules.

Images